A light emission device has an emitter made of a dielectric material, a cathode electrode disposed on a surface of the emitter, an anode electrode disposed on a reverse surface of the emitter, and a pulse generation source for applying a drive voltage between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode through a resistor. A fluorescent body is disposed on the surface of the emitter out of contact with the cathode, but as closely to the cathode electrode as possible.